Media Assignment 1
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Simon Fraser University *
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413
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Medicine
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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Media Assignment 1: Far Right Extremism
Andy Kim (D102)
Media Context
Article was published on Oct. 23, by an online news and analysis source called “Press
Progress”
o
Left-biased media source based on story selection and wording (Media Bias Fact
Check, 2023)
o
Critical of Conservative Party for not disavowing these groups of individuals and
for one of their MP’s inviting a dozen of these members to the House of
Commons
What
Plotting of ‘Save the Children’ convoy in secret, in-person planning meetings
o
Smaller offshoot of 2022 Freedom convoy
Rooted in anti-LGBTQ paranoia and QAnon conspiracy narratives, particularly regarding
pedophiles (Pressprogress, 2023)
o
Beliefs:
UN and WHO are instructing schools to have pedophilia normalized
Trump is leading a heroic fight against an evil faction of Satanic
pedophiles
Canadians must step up to replace the Canadian government, calling for
jailing politicians including the PM and installing a new government
Pseudo-legal ‘Sovereign Citizen’ beliefs: Advises supporters not to
register births of their children, claiming the state has no authority over
children without one
Who
Gordon Berry, prolific live-streamer and one of the founders of the “Save the Children
Convoy”
o
Actively coordinated and participated in the Freedom Convoy events in 2022
around the Maritimes
o
Often references conspiracies in relation to vaccines, pedophilia, and other themes
connected to QAnon
Significant number are members of “Bridges to Freedom” group, based on Quebec
When
First emerged this summer as a private Facebook group following a series of anti-
LGBTQ rallies this Spring and other far-right conspiracies
o
Posts memes, TikTok videos to gain traction
Where
Over 100 conspiracy theorists have set up a basecamp called “Camp X” out in a field 40
minutes east of the Ottawa for over three weeks, plotting to replace Canada’s government
by sending out waves of convoy
Media Assignment 1: Far Right Extremism
Andy Kim (D102)
References:
Media Bias Fact Check, (2023, August 25).
Press progress - bias and credibility
. Media
Bias/Fact Check.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/press-progress/
Pressprogress. (2023, October 24).
What is the “save the children convoy” and what do they
really believe?
PressProgress. https://pressprogress.ca/what-is-the-save-the-children-
convoy-and-what-do-they-really-believe/
Media Assignment 1: Far Right Extremism
Andy Kim (D102)
The article I've selected was recently published, just last week, on an online media outlet known
as Press Progress. It reports the activities of a group of far-right individuals who are reportedly
orchestrating a series of large-scale convoys under the banner of quote on quote 'Save the
Children.' According to the report, more than one hundred individuals associated with far-right
conspiracy theories have established a convoy basecamp named 'Camp X.' This basecamp is
located in a field positioned 40 minutes to the east of Ottawa. Over the past three weeks, they
have engaged in the secretive planning of the eventual occupation of Toronto and the
encirclement of government facilities in Ottawa, all with the intent of subjecting government
officials to what they call a 'citizen's arrest.’ In the past few weeks, several arrests have been
made around Parliament Hill, following a series of unauthorized arrests.
To get into the motive itself, the article describes "Save the Children Convoy" to be a spinoff
from the 2022 pandemic Freedom Convoy, and a significant number of its participants are linked
to the Quebec-based far-right group "Bridges of Freedom," who were actively engaged in the
2022 convoy. This movement made its debut earlier this summer when a private Facebook group
formed in the wake of a series of far-right anti-LGBTQ demonstrations aimed at primary
schools.
A central figure in this movement is Gordon Berry, a prolific live-streamer and the movement's
founder. He and his followers vigorously promote anti-LGBTQ and QAnon conspiracy
narratives, particularly regarding pedophilia. The core belief of this movement revolves around
baseless theories, including the idea that influential organizations like the UN and WHO are
pushing to have pedophilia normalized across the world. Therefore, members of this movement
see it as their duty to challenge and replace the Canadian government, believing they should step
up to resist these perceived threats. They also endorse pseudolegal Sovereign Citizen beliefs,
advising supporters not to register their children's births, claiming that this would deny the state
authority over them. And this relates back to the course material when it talks about the well-
established link between right-wing extremism and conspiracy theories, where right wing
extremists often leverage these theories to foster paranoia, spread misinformation, and bolster an
'us vs. them,' 'good vs. evil' narrative to try and legitimize extreme actions.
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